News, Notes, Series Preview

The Sox host Toronto for a three game set beginning Friday. Boston will send Beckett and Buchholz to the mound for the first two matches, with the Sunday headliner featuring Lester versus Halladay.

Buckle your seat belts. It's going to be a wild ride. Series preview, news, and notes inside...

8/26: Wakefield makes his return

Tim Wakefield returns to the mound to take on Gavin Floyd. Welcome back, Wake, you are needed.

What makes Alex Gonzalez a good fit?

The Red Sox recently picked up Alex Gonzalez and I’ve heard a lot of scuffling from Reds fans. A few…

Impact of the Billy Wagner trade

The Billy Wagner acquisition by the Red Sox is a major acquisition that will have an impact on the Sox's ability to close out games, both down the stretch run and (cross your fingers) in the playoffs.

This is one of your more complicated trades: the Red Sox had to navigate the morass of a 2010 option and arbitration possibilities to get the lefty into the Sox bullpen. Let's look at where things now stand.

No way you slice it, Billy Wagner is better than the morass of relievers that have come through the Sox clubhouse since Justin Masterson departed.

Fireside Chats #57: Where we dip into the Mad Dog for a little relief

Sorry for the lack of shows recently, a vacation followed by a week with a fever eerily similar to Jason Varitek's batting average knocked me out of commission. But we are back and ready for the stretch run! We talk playoff chances, hurdles in the Red Sox way of making it there, key players that need to step up on the way home and more. And we welcome, for the first time, a very special guest long known for his ability to scream into a "Mike" and talk sports...."Mad Dog" (our very own version at least).

All that and more on Episode #57 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

8/25: Freddy Garcia vs. Jon Lester

The matchup favors the Red Sox as Freddy Garcia takes on Jon Lester.

Billy Wagner Added to Bullpen

The Red Sox traded for Billy Wagner today for two players to be named later, reports ESPN.

Is he the same pitcher as he was in 2007 or have injuries taken their toll...

Remy Returns, Clay Stumbles, Sox Win – All is Forgiven

The Sox take the first game of the series against the White Sox, 12-8, on the strength of a 6 run third inning. Clay Buchholz struggled with his command, being chased in the fifth inning.

And Firebrand would like to welcome Jerry Remy back to the booth. It's a little belated, but hey, someone had to do it...

8/24: White Sox/Red Sox

8/23: CC vs. Josh

CC Sabathia takes on Josh Beckett.tonight in the rubber game of the series. The Yankees could put the division away, or they could let the Red SOx linger around in the distance, giving them a slight chance.